Metro area profile · Ohio
Columbus, OH metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Columbus metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 2,242,028
- +4.7% since 2020
- Households
- 864,663
- Median household income
- $81,945
- +25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $300,800
- Jobs located here
- 1,129,650
- Highest market score
- 86
- Physical therapy, #2 of 386 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Columbus metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Columbus metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 2,242,028 people live in the Columbus metro area, in 864,663 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Columbus metro area grew 4.7%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Columbus metro area is $81,945 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Columbus metro area spend the most on medical and dental services (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (81).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Columbus metro area are for physical therapy clinics (86), auto repair and car care businesses (84) and auto repair shops (84). The Columbus metro area ranks #2 of 386 scored metro areas for physical therapy clinics.
The Columbus metro area takes in 10 counties: Franklin County, Delaware County, Licking County, Fairfield County and 6 more. For its number of households, the Columbus metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for urgent care and walk-in clinics (60% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for laundromats (44% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Columbus metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Columbus metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapy | 86 | #2 of 386 | 340 | 3.9 | $3.8M | 159 | 224 |
| Auto repair and car care | 84 | #4 of 387 | 2,645 | 30.6 | $344K | 128 | 945 |
| Auto repair shops | 84 | #5 of 387 | 1,549 | 17.9 | $588K | 132 | 634 |
| Laundromats | 81 | #15 of 364 | 78 | 0.9 | $23.4M | 187 | 43 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 78 | #21 of 381 | 224 | 2.6 | $4.1M | 132 | 162 |
| Electricians | 77 | #13 of 383 | 184 | 2.1 | $13.6M | 114 | 363 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 76 | #31 of 387 | 6,913 | 80.0 | $188K | 123 | 2,652 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 76 | #31 of 387 | 1,577 | 18.2 | $1.2M | 132 | 667 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 76 | #32 of 387 | 1,150 | 13.3 | $1.6M | 125 | 544 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 75 | #20 of 387 | 513 | 5.9 | $4.9M | 103 | 456 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 75 | #28 of 387 | 4,590 | 53.1 | $786K | 118 | 1,399 |
| Hair salons | 74 | #17 of 387 | 1,820 | 21.0 | $501K | 117 | 434 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 74 | #20 of 387 | 683 | 7.9 | $5.3M | 127 | 474 |
| Home repair trades | 74 | #21 of 387 | 1,041 | 12.0 | $2.4M | 99 | 980 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 73 | #13 of 387 | 3,609 | 41.7 | $253K | 119 | 759 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 73 | #21 of 387 | 334 | 3.9 | $2.7M | 132 | 198 |
| Chiropractors | 73 | #36 of 386 | 415 | 4.8 | $3.1M | 131 | 232 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 73 | #49 of 387 | 589 | 6.8 | $2.2M | 124 | 1,117 |
| Nail salons | 72 | #30 of 387 | 433 | 5.0 | $2.1M | 126 | 98 |
| Car washes and detailing | 72 | #39 of 387 | 320 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 113 | 114 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 71 | #38 of 387 | 827 | 9.6 | $4.4M | 118 | 424 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 71 | #55 of 387 | 8,578 | 99.2 | $421K | 113 | 3,777 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 70 | #47 of 290 | 59 | 0.7 | $15.4M | 112 | 55 |
| Barbershops | 69 | #61 of 387 | 411 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 118 | 42 |
| Gas stations | 69 | #71 of 387 | 679 | 7.9 | $3.3M | 139 | 591 |
| Spas and skin care | 68 | #47 of 387 | 855 | 9.9 | $1.1M | 122 | 174 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 67 | #53 of 387 | 1,244 | 14.4 | $713K | 108 | 483 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 67 | #73 of 387 | 1,083 | 12.5 | $1.2M | 122 | 801 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 67 | #74 of 387 | 1,343 | 15.5 | $4M | 119 | 592 |
| Pest control | 66 | #68 of 345 | 108 | 1.2 | $10.5M | 103 | 59 |
| Convenience stores | 66 | #82 of 387 | 532 | 6.2 | $10.2M | 129 | 265 |
| Dry cleaners | 65 | #48 of 272 | 89 | 1.0 | $20.5M | 131 | 80 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 64 | #92 of 386 | 314 | 3.6 | $2.5M | 99 | 168 |
| Pet stores | 64 | #96 of 382 | 158 | 1.8 | $5M | 110 | 70 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 63 | #65 of 347 | 179 | 2.1 | $5M | 122 | 285 |
| Pet businesses | 63 | #96 of 387 | 904 | 10.5 | $873K | 99 | 483 |
| Tire shops | 63 | #115 of 386 | 341 | 3.9 | $2.7M | 107 | 130 |
| Grocery stores | 62 | #108 of 387 | 534 | 6.2 | $10.2M | 109 | 327 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 60 | #136 of 385 | 448 | 5.2 | $2.5M | 86 | 622 |
| Gyms | 59 | #110 of 387 | 731 | 8.5 | $1.2M | 93 | 285 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 59 | #126 of 387 | 771 | 8.9 | $1.5M | 88 | 1,120 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 59 | #139 of 387 | 1,191 | 13.8 | $3M | 99 | 1,932 |
| Roofing and gutters | 57 | #135 of 381 | 344 | 4.0 | $7.3M | 86 | 161 |
| Veterinarians | 57 | #148 of 384 | 307 | 3.6 | $2.6M | 95 | 245 |
| Funeral homes | 55 | #147 of 377 | 138 | 1.6 | $734K | 108 | 83 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 54 | #83 of 197 | 65 | 0.8 | $20M | 82 | 90 |
| Property management | 51 | #173 of 374 | 214 | 2.5 | Index only | 107 | 494 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 51 | #193 of 386 | 440 | 5.1 | $3M | 94 | 188 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 49 | #193 of 373 | 352 | 4.1 | Index only | 93 | 122 |
| House cleaning | 48 | #208 of 375 | 215 | 2.5 | $5.3M | 82 | 439 |
| Pizza | 47 | #221 of 387 | 878 | 10.2 | $4.1M | 81 | 1,932 |
| Home inspectors | 44 | #154 of 243 | 74 | 0.9 | Index only | 66 | 52 |
| Real estate | 42 | #261 of 387 | 3,279 | 37.9 | Index only | 90 | 1,786 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #273 of 387 | 2,639 | 30.5 | Index only | 89 | 932 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #257 of 387 | 1,307 | 15.1 | $1M | 83 | 776 |
| Child care and preschools | 32 | #323 of 387 | 666 | 7.7 | $614K | 61 | 700 |
Household spending in the Columbus metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $910.5M | $1,053 | 110 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $2.3B | $2,612 | 101 |
| Food away from home | $3.6B | $4,172 | 103 |
| Groceries | $5.4B | $6,269 | 99 |
| Personal care products and services | $912.4M | $1,055 | 105 |
| Child care and other personal services | $409M | $473 | 81 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $887.5M | $1,026 | 104 |
| Medical and dental services | $1.3B | $1,504 | 117 |
| Pets | $789.4M | $913 | 100 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $1.8B | $2,115 | 103 |
| Vehicle insurance | $1.4B | $1,576 | 81 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $2.5B | $2,903 | 96 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $1.1B | $1,312 | 93 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $12.8B | $14,770 | 89 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Columbus metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 2,242,028+4.7% since 2020
- Households
- 864,663
- Median age
- 38.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 4,798 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 454
- Median household income
- $81,945+25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $110,942
- Median home value
- $300,800
- Jobs located here
- 1,129,650
- Daytime population
- 2,268,069Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Columbus metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Columbus metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Columbus metro area 10
- Franklin County, OH1,333,048 people
- Delaware County, OH226,834 people
- Licking County, OH181,837 people
- Fairfield County, OH163,453 people
- Union County, OH67,324 people
- Pickaway County, OH60,131 people
- Madison County, OH44,423 people
- Perry County, OH35,535 people
- Morrow County, OH35,404 people
- Hocking County, OH27,799 people
Other markets based in Ohio 12
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area2,270,706 people
- Cleveland, OH metro area2,171,526 people
- Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH metro area816,080 people
- Akron, OH metro area699,820 people
- Toledo, OH metro area602,322 people
- Youngstown-Warren, OH metro area427,420 people
- Canton-Massillon, OH metro area400,372 people
- Springfield, OH metro area135,158 people
- Mansfield, OH metro area125,099 people
- Sandusky, OH metro area114,575 people
- Lima, OH metro area101,348 people
- Wooster, OH area116,588 people
Questions
How fast is the Columbus, OH metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Columbus metro area at 2,242,028 people in 2025, up 4.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 864,663 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Columbus, OH metro area spend?
Households in the Columbus metro area spend about $12.8B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $5.4B on groceries and $3.6B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Columbus metro area runs highest on medical and dental services (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (81).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Columbus, OH metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Columbus metro area, physical therapy clinics (86), auto repair and car care businesses (84) and auto repair shops (84) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For physical therapy clinics, that ranks #2 of 386 scored metro areas.
How does the Columbus, OH metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Columbus metro area is $81,945, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $300,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for urgent care and walk-in clinics (60% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for laundromats (44% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Columbus metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Columbus metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Ohio · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Columbus metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Columbus metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.